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MOMENT OF REFLECTION: An event marking two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine took place at St Mary’s Ukrainian School in Skinner’s Kent Academy (SKA) on Saturday February 23. Students and families were joined by Mayor Hugh Patterson, Mayoress Sandra Patterson, Councillor Hugo Pound, TWBC Chief Executive William Benson and SKA Principal Hannah Knowles. More on page 3
Council Leader reveals key points of proposed five-year plan for Borough FOLLOWING the recent publication of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s (TWBC) draft Strategic Plan for 2024-29 earlier this month, The Times sat down to speak exclusively with Council Leader Ben Chapelard about what he believes the Borough can achieve in the next five years. The draft plan comes after a consultation of over 1,500 residents last summer and follows a councillor convention which brought together councillors from across the local county, borough, town, and parish councils. The six-week consultation period began on February 2, with residents of Tunbridge Wells Borough given until March 15 to offer feedback on the plan. The proposed five-year plan sets out TWBC’s five priorities for the Borough’s future. The priorities of Climate Action,
Environment, Sustainable Growth, Vibrant Economy and Community Wellbeing aim to achieve a more equal and connected community ‘where all generations can live healthy and fulfilling lives’.
‘The proposed draft plan comes after a consultation of over 1,500 residents last summer. Members of the public now have until March 15 to consider it’ Policies in councils’ local plans are expected to be reviewed every five years to assess whether they need updating in order to fulfil the changing needs of any
given borough. Mr Chapelard, who has been Councillor of St James Ward since 2010 and Council Leader since 2022, heads the coalition council’s Borough Partnership, comprised of Liberal Democrats (LD), Tunbridge Wells Alliance (TWA) and Labour (Lab) councillors, along with one independent councillor for Paddock Wood (East). “I see the Council as a force for good, it’s a really powerful organisation that is here to do good things for residents, businesses and visitors. So, the strategic plan is about putting all our energies and our focus into the things we think can make the biggest difference,” he told the Times last week.
Ben Chapelard interview – page 4
THE London Capital Finance (LCF) civil proceedings continued in the High Court last week, February 20, with the barrister defending the mini-bond firm leaving court on the first day stating there was no prospect of their fees being paid. Before the opening submissions could begin Ian Mayes KC, who was representing former LCF Chief Executive Michael Andrew Thompson, stood down. He told the court that ‘despite best efforts’ Thompson had been unable to release the funds required to pay the barrister.
Collapse The court heard how LCF had sold 16,706 bonds to 11,625 members of the public, raising a total of over £235 million by the time of the investment company’s collapse in 2019. Stephen Robins KC, representing the claimants, argued in written submissions that LCF had been ‘a Ponzi scheme from the outset’ as it used “new investors’ monies to pay returns to existing investors.” As the Times has previously reported, Tunbridge Wells businessman and former local Conservative Association Chairman, Simon Hume Kendall, is among the defendants. Hume Kendall stands alleged of breaching ‘fiduciary duty’, meaning the legal responsibility to act solely in the best interest of another party. The trial, which is expected to last 20 weeks, continues.
INSIDE: More big names announced for Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival